9) Non-stabilized appch.
6 fatal accidents on record
This accident is where the pilot flies an unstabilized approach and never discontinues the approach, but instead forces the plane onto the runway. The result is usually a long landing going off the opposite end. Depending on the terrain and circumstances, not all accidents are fatal, but each result in a runway excursion either laterally or past the end. The FAA asks for stabilized approaches in numerous documents for GA but never defines exactly what criteria defines a stabilized approach.
Trend
- Accidents per quarter
- Rolling 12-month average
| Period | Accidents | Rolling 12-month average per quarter |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 2025 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Q2 2025 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Q3 2025 | 1 | 0.5 |
| Q4 2025 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Q1 2026 | 1 | 0.8 |
| Q2 2026 | 1 | 1 |
| Q3 2026 | 0 | 0.8 |
| Q4 2026 QTD | 0 | 0.5 |
Lessons
Short reads from the DTSB lesson library for this category.
No lessons for this category yet.
Practice scenarios
What to practice to keep this from happening to you. Fly drills with a qualified instructor at a safe altitude, or in a simulator.
No practice scenarios for this category yet.
Recent accidents in this category
Piper PA32R-301T | N4190E
9) Non-stabilized appch.Socata TB21 | N967WM
9) Non-stabilized appch.Denny Kitfox 2 | N8610X
9) Non-stabilized appch.Cessna 172-F | N8219U
9) Non-stabilized appch.Learjet 35A | N81VN
9) Non-stabilized appch.Cessna CE-T206-H | N460DC
9) Non-stabilized appch.